Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
“AJ would burn down his house with both his son and his girlfriend inside?” Mika asked, and her voice was pitched far higher than normal.
His first thought was, if he was the beneficiary of life insurance on either of them, Jamie wouldn’t put it past him.
But he said, “I don’t know about that.” He looked back to the TV to see Evan prattling mutely on about something. “The reporter might have been given wrong information.”
Allegra plopped down beside her brother, with Valentina doing it on the other side, Allegra saying, “I’m so sorry, Jamie. Watching your childhood home burn like that has to stink.”
Actually, he had no fucks to give. The ostentatious monstrosity of Oakbilly could burn right to the ground for all he cared.
It was just that his real dad and brothers would have no home to live in and as such, would have to rebuild if they decided to take over Oakbilly and live there.
“What’s this about arson?” Valentina asked.
“I’ll explain later,” Nora said quickly.
Jamie sat back down, and since they were attached to him, both of his girls came down with him.
“Do you think that Charles and his group pulled out of the deal, and this was an act of desperation?” Nora asked quietly.
“I don’t know what to think,” Jamie muttered.
“What I think is, it’s time for dessert,” Mika decreed. “I’ll go talk to Alyona. We’ll serve it in here. Cozy and comfortable.”
Jamie watched as Mika gave Tom’s hand a squeeze and strode out.
“I’m gonna help Mom,” Cadence said, shooting a sad look Jamie’s way, then she ducked out.
“You okay, Dad?” Dru asked.
He turned to her. “I’m fine, darlin’. Just…stunned. But I had no ties to that place, and not many good memories.”
She glanced beyond him to Nora before she came back to him and said, “Okay.”
He squeezed her hand.
Then he looked to Nico and requested, “Can we talk in the hall for a second?”
All the women exchanged glances, but Nico got up quickly, saying, “Sure.”
Jamie followed him to the hall, and when they were down it a ways, they stopped.
“We got interrupted. Are you good?” Jamie asked.
Nico blinked at him before he said, “I’m sorry, did we just watch your childhood home burning on the TV, they don’t know where your dad and brother are, and you’re worried about me?”
“I’m not close with my family,” Jamie explained.
Nico started laughing softly. “No, man. You’re just…you.” He cuffed Jamie on the arm and went on, “I’m sick to my stomach my marriage is over. What comes next is gonna suck. But right now, I mean, Ma is pretty damned rad, so I understand how she earned you in this life, and I’m glad she did.”
That felt really damned good.
Jamie nodded and clapped him on the back.
They returned to the hearth room.
Nora sought his gaze, and he did his best to communicate It’s going to be okay with it.
He must have succeeded, because her face softened, her brown eyes warmed, and he returned to sit between her and Dru.
Mika and Cadence came in with trays of individual strawberry trifles, conversation sprang up, and although he weathered some concerned looks, and Nora nor Dru left his side, it was all good.
But Jamie couldn’t keep his eyes from straying to the TV every so often to see if more news of the fire had come on.
This being more news about his father who had never been his father, or his dad. His brother, who fortunately was only half-blood to him, but he didn’t want him dead. More news about a misguided woman who took a certain path in life and wanted others to pay for it.
No more news came on.
So he waited until everyone had left, outside Nico and Dru, before he went to the study to make his calls.
Jeff didn’t pick up.
And neither did AJ.
The ranch house and all the outbuildings were burning to the ground. They might be busy.
No answer could mean anything.
And neither of them would think to call Jamie and tell him they were okay.
So he had to wait.
And to his surprise, the wait was excruciating.
It was after dinner.
Dru was gone.
Jamie and Nico were in the hearth room watching a baseball game, something which Nora had no interest in, so she said she was going to give herself a facial.
But just then, Nora came in.
Jamie looked to her.
He was flat out on one couch, Nico the same on the other, and she came to Jamie and sat by his hip.
Jamie didn’t like the look on her face one bit.
“Elsa phoned.” She drew in breath. “Darling, Jeff was in the fire. Paloma and AJ were in Dallas.”
He felt his chest get tight. “He was in the fire? He died?”
Nico slipped out as Nora grabbed Jamie’s hand and held tight.
He sat up.
“He died,” she whispered. “And…Jamie…”
“What?” he asked tersely, not sure what he was feeling, he just knew it wasn’t good.